FROM Australia to Brazil, India to Japan, a Lake District B&B has welcomed guests from 60 countries since opening four years ago.

Denis and Anita St Bernard, who own and run the Archway Guest House in Windermere, say they are delighted to have hosted so many international visitors under their roof.

The couple are no strangers to globetrotting themselves, with Denis brought up on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, and Anita hailing from the Netherlands.

Denis said they see themselves as “trend setters in the area of diversity” by welcoming tourists from so many different locations to the Lake District World Heritage Site.

“Interacting with over 50 different nationalities is very interesting to say the least,” said Denis, a keen cook who has become renowned for his Caribbean-style breakfasts such as fried plantain and codfish fritters dipped in hot pepper sauce - recipes he was taught by his mother, Elfreda, from the age of seven or eight.

At the last count in the guest book, the Victorian bed-and-breakfast on College Road has provided hospitality to tourists from 60 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, the USA and Vietnam.

“Our Asian guests tend to be the ones travelling with extra-large suitcases requiring storage,” said Denis.

“They make their trips to London for shopping etc as these economies are currently doing well, and they tend to be fascinated by the Lake District World Heritage Site.”

Cumbria Tourism's marketing manager Sue Clarke said UNESCO World Heritage Site status had "huge resonance with overseas markets" with many visitors treating the sites as "must dos" on their travels.

She added: "Cumbria Tourism is working closely with our member businesses, VisitBritain and key Northern Destination Management Organisations to develop experiences that appeal to different international visitors and encourage longer stays."